Assam Bengal Navigation Cruises, The Ganges & The Brahmaputra River

Anyone who has travelled by train or plane through India, or who has been driven on Indian roads, will be amazed to learn that there is actually a way to travel through the country in total serenity and comfort. It is, in fact, possible to cruise for some 1750 miles on the rivers and inland waterways of India, passing through great cities, alongside wildlife sanctuaries and historical monuments and into the heart of rural India. Assam Bengal Navigation is a pioneer in this exploration.

Assam Bengal Navigation Co., an Indo-British joint venture with offi ces in India and the UK, launched India’s fi rst-ever long-distance river cruises on the Brahmaputra river in Assam in 2003. For this innovative enterprise the company was the recipient of the

Indian National Tourism Award in 2005. In 2007 we launched river cruises on the Hugli river in West Bengal, and in 2010 we commenced cruises on the Ganges, up from the Hugli junction through Bihar to Patna.

From 15th February, 2014 we will be operating our third vessel ABN Rajmahal on the Ganges from Kolkata to Patna during the winter months and then up to Varanasi from 2nd August, 2014.

ABN Charaidew

ABN Sukapha

Kalna, Bengal

The 2525 km long Ganges River rises in the Western Himalayas in the Indian state of Utt arakhand and fl ows south and

east through the Gangetic plains of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. The Ganges basin is the most heavily populated river basin in the world, with over 400 million people and a population density of about 1,000 inhabitants per square mile.

Worshipped as the Goddess Ganga in Hinduism, the Ganges is the most sacred river to the Hindus; it is also a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it for their daily needs. The rich historical importance of the Ganges is proven by the many former provincial or imperial capitals which came up along its banks over many centuries.

On our Ganges cruises we will be anchoring midstream and taking our country boat to the bank from where we will explore sometimes on foot, and at other times by cycle rickshaw or by minibus for longer trips. Excursions each day will vary, but there will usually be plenty of time for relaxation on the sundeck, an ideal

GANGES & HUGLI CRUISES

vantage point for watching life along the banks, and returning the waves of excited villagers while sipping a cold beer from the honesty bar. There are also opportunities to walk through villages and local markets as well as lapping up the cultural delights of a region of India that is terra incognita to the average package tour.

Varanasi - The City of LightWith our specially-designed new ship, ABN Rajmahal, we are able to off er two one-week cruises which access the Holy Grail of Ganges cruises, the sacred city of Varanasi itself. Operating only in periods of high water, when India is at its most lush and att ractive, the cruises explore untouched villages and towns of rural India along the river between Patna and Varanasi. Both cruises feature two days of sightseeing in Varanasi itself, while the downstream cruise also includes a visit to the spectacular Chunar Fort. Cruise details are subject to fi nal revision.

For details, visitwww.assambengalnavigation.com

Tomb of Sher Shah Suri

Varanasi

What is there to see on the upper Ganges cruises?Varanasi: Experience the evening Ganga aarti ceremony, a very powerful and uplift ing spiritual ritual on the famous ghats of the Ganges. Take rowing boats at dawn past the busy and colourful bathing ghats, and a memorable walk in the old town with its narrow lanes, old houses and shops.

Chunar and Ramnagar: Visit the great Moghul fort and the old British cemetery, then Maharaja’s Palace and museum at Ramnagar.

Sarnath: Buddhist religious sites and the Deer Park where Buddha preached his fi rst sermon to his disciples.

Sasaram: Outstanding architecture of the tomb of Sher Shah Suri, standing in the middle of an artifi cial lake.

Ghazipur: The visibly imposing Tomb of Lord Cornwallis, a legendary British fi gure who both lost and won colonies for his country.

Buxar: A memorial of the famous batt le of 1764, which helped to lay the foundations of the British Raj in India. Take cycle rickshaws to visit the old East India Company cemetery and the tiny museum.

Maner: Visit a small but spectacular Moghul tomb and take a walk in the village to see their way of life.

Patna: A big and bustling city with fi ne museums, a famous Sikh temple and many relics of the East India Company including the extraordinary Golghar granary.

Sonepur: On the opposite bank, enjoy a vibrant month-long catt le fair with many side shows and amusements. Coinciding with the Full Moon, this famous fair is held every November.

For details, visitwww.assambengalnavigation.com

Holy Ganges & Historic HugliHoly Ganges cruises: These cruises along the main stream of the Ganges – 6 nights downstream / 8 nights upstream – operate between Farakka, reached by rail from Kolkata, and the city of Patna, and can be combined with the Hugli cruises. Mughal ruins at Rajmahal, East India Company relics at Patna and Monghyr, and Buddhist monuments at Boddh Gaya and elsewhere in this, the Buddha’s homeland, make for an exciting voyage through undiscovered territory.

Historic Hugli cruises: These 7-night cruises, upstream or downstream with return journey by rail, take you along the intimate lower Ganges sidestream – the River Hugli – which fl ows from Farakka on the main river down to Kolkata. As well as sightseeing of Kolkata itself and the European colonies just outside, the cruise takes in Murshidabad, capital of the Nawabs of Bengal, the batt lefi eld of Plassey close by, and the many monuments of the medieval Islamic capital of Gaur. A highlight of the cruise is the litt le-known but exquisite Bengali terracott a temples. Cruises can be combined with Ganges cruises on most dates.

For details, visitwww.assambengalnavigation.com

What is there to see on the lower Ganges & Hugli cruises?Nalanda and Rajgir: Sites associated with the life of the Buddha, and impressive excavations of an 8th century Buddhist stupa and monastery.

Monghyr: Fortifi ed by the Mughals as well as the British, a fascinating backwater town dominated by the Pirpahar hill.

Sultanganj and Colganj: Two atmospheric Hindu island shrines both with ancient rock carving.

Murshidabad

Baranagar

Ganges River

Bhagalpur: A silk-weaving centre on a stretch of the river with plentiful river dolphins.

Vikramshila and Bateshwar: A recently excavated Buddhist stupa and monastery close to a delightful riverside village with abundant early Hindu rock carvings.

Farakka and Gaur: The great dam across the Ganges lies close to Gaur, a major ruined Islamic city of the Sultanate period, with great medieval mosques and fortifi cations.

Baranagar: A charming hamlet with some superb Bengali terracott a temples.

Murshidabad: Capital of the Nawabs of Bengal and once larger than London, it is now a charming country town with some splendid 18th century palaces in Georgian style as well as earlier mosques and tombs, including that of Siraj-ud-Daulah.

Plassey: The site of Robert Clive’s momentous victory is marked by an obelisk a short way from the river bank.

Matiari and Nabadwip: A village with a cott age brass-making industry, close to the pilgrimage

centre of Nabadwip with a giant banyan tree engulfi ng an ancient temple and market.

Kalna: More superb Bengali terracott a temples, as well as a unique circular temple with concentric rings of shrinelets.

The Trading Posts: Bandel and Chinsura boast Portuguese and Dutch colonial remains, as well as the stately Great Imambara rising above the river bank. Chandernagore, French until 1950, still retains a Gallic fl avour, with Dupleix’s House, now a museum, as well as churches, and even a boulangerie.

Barrackpore: The Viceroy’s weekend retreat boasts fi ne mansions and a large cantonment where the Indian Mutiny broke out in 1857. Opposite is the one-time Danish colony of Serampore.

Kolkata/Calcutt a: The City of Palaces and capital of British India until 1911, Kolkata boasts many fi ne buildings and museums, including the Victoria Memorial, the Raj’s own Taj Mahal. Howrah Bridge, built in 1943, dominates the city’s skyline.

Hazarduwari Palace

Taken fromABN Charaidew sundeck

BRAHMAPUTRA CRUISES

The Brahmaputra, one of the major rivers of Asia, is a trans-boundary river about 2900 km long and originating

from western Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo River. This river fl ows through three countries – born in Tibet, fl owing through India and then on to Bangladesh. It has many names - Tsangpo in Tibet, Lohit or Brahmaputra in India and Jamuna (not Yamuna of India) in Bangladesh. The waters of the Brahmaputra are shared by China, India, and Bangladesh. While most Indian and Bangladeshi rivers bear female names, this river has a rare male name; it means “son of Brahma” in Sanskrit. The Brahmaputra is navigable for most of its length. The river is prone to catastrophic fl ooding in spring when the Himalayan snows melt. It is also one of the few rivers in the world that exhibit a tidal bore. In Bangladesh the river merges with the Ganges and splits into two: the Hugli and Padma rivers. When the Brahmaputra merges with the Ganges and Meghna rivers, it forms the world’s largest delta, 60,000 km2 in area.

On the Brahmaputra cruises, we visit riverside villages where the locals will be as fascinated by us as we are by them. Where we cannot moor alongside, we take our country boat to shore, sometimes rising early to go on rhino-spott ing

safaris, either on elephant back or jeeps. A favorite evening is a barbecue on a mid-river sand island around a drift wood campfi re. The wilderness sett ing under a vast canopy of stars adds to the appreciation of our chef’s kebabs, marinated and cooked to perfection.

Rhinos and moreThis 7-night cruise starts at Guwahati and ends at Silghat near Tezpur and Kaziranga. Highlights include the Orang and Kaziranga National Parks, and temples in Tezpur.

River Island cruise This 7-night cruise on the highest reaches of the Brahmaputra highlights the unique culture of the area, fusing Indian and Southeast Asian infl uences, with a visit to Sibsagar, the old capital of the Ahom kings, as well as to Majuli Island with its unique Hindu monastic communities famous for their dance drama. Wildlife is not forgott en, and the cruise also visits Kaziranga where sightings of rhino are virtually guaranteed.

Brahmaputra Maximum This 10-night cruise starts at a river ghat between Jorhat and Dibrugarh, and ends at Guwahati.

Brahmaputra Cruises

Highlights include the old capital of the Ahom kings at Sibsagar, Majuli Island with its Hindu monasteries, Kaziranga National Park, temples at Tezpur and Madan Kamdev, and the silk weaving village of Sualkuchi.

Brahmaputra TasterThis 4-night out-and-back cruise provides a fascinating taster of Assam, with visits to villages and to the rarely visited Orang National Park, where you will venture through the jungle in search of the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros. It is also available as a 3-night one-way cruise to Orang with road transfer onwards to Kaziranga.

Wild AssamWild Assam combines stays in both our Manas and Kaziranga lodges with a 3-night river cruise, to make a perfect one-week introduction to Assam’s National Parks and wilderness areas.

For details, visitwww.assambengalnavigation.com

What is there to see on the Brahmaputra cruises?Dibrugarh: Close to the upper limit of navigation, Dibrugarh is an army town at the end of the Stilwell Road built to link China to India in World War II. The supply operation over The Hump to China also operated from airfi elds here.

Sivasagar: The old capital of the Kingdom of Assam; its kings, of Thai stock, were converts to Hinduism, and their substantial remaining palaces and temples are an amalgam of Indian and Southeast Asian styles. The tank beside which the main temple stands is said to be the world’s largest reservoir excavated by hand tools.

Majuli Island: A vast river island on the Brahmaputra, a number of unique Vaishnavite Hindu monasteries famous for their performances of religious dance-drama rest here.

Jorhat: One of the two main centers of the tea industry, visits to tea plantations can be organized.

Kaziranga National Park: A World Heritage site and right on the river, Kaziranga National Park with over 2000 one-horned rhinoceros holds most of the world’s population. It also has the densest tiger population in any Indian national park, although they are hard to see. However wild elephant, wild buff alo, sambar, swamp deer, hog deer and many other species are easily seen. Viewing is both by jeep and on elephant back.

Tezpur: Another tea centre, with the remains of a 6th century temple, is the access point to the Nameri National Park in the Himalayan foothills.

Orang National Park: A smaller version of Kaziranga on the opposite bank, and much less visited, it also possesses a signifi cant rhino population.

Manas National Park: A World Heritage site on the foothills of the Bhutan frontier is one of India’s most beautiful. The wildlife population is recovering well aft er years of unrest.

Guwahati: The state capital of Assam, off shore lies Peacock Island, while on a hill above the city, tantric rites are practiced at the Kamakhya temple.

Sualkuchi and Hajo: A delightful riverside village, Sualkuchi is a centre for hand-weaving silk. Nearby Hajo is a pilgrimage centre sacred to Hindus, Muslims and Jains, with a temple tank full of turtles and carp.Goalpara: The archaeological site of Sri Surya Pahar has Buddhist, Hindu and Jain remains. To the south lies the wild Garo Hills.Dhubri: This river port still retains a statue of Queen Victoria and has some fi ne colonial bungalows. Nearby lies Cooch Behar and a sizeable palace of one of India’s bett er known dynasties of Maharajahs.

ABN Sukapha

Our cruises operate from January through to the end of April, and from July through to December. Every month has both advantages and disadvantages, and we give below a rundown of the diff erent seasons.

July - August - September During these months we sail on the Hugli and Ganges only. There is some rain, but usually for not more than an hour or so at a time. Water levels are high, so grounding is rare, and rural India is looking its incomparable best, lush and green in the wonderful clarity of light, with both blossom and tropical fruit abounding. Temperatures are high, with high levels of humidity.

October - November - December Water levels remain quite high, and Brahmaputra cruises start at this time. However foliage is still dense, and fl ood plains are still oft en underwater, so Assam’s wildlife viewing is usually poor until about the beginning of November. Tea gardens and factories though will be in full swing, usually until early December, while this time off ers the best chance of a glimpse of Himalayan snows. Rain should be rare and temperatures moderate, but sun not always guaranteed.

January - FebruaryWater levels are low on the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, so groundings can occur, while morning mists can delay gett ing under way. For those who dislike heat, December and January are good months. As leaves shrivel and fall, wildlife viewing starts to improve.

March - AprilLow water levels on the Ganges can cause problems, although the Hugli should not be aff ected. Temperatures start to rise, although without much humidity, and by April sudden brief storms can occur. In Assam wildlife viewing is probably at its best, and activity returns to the tea gardens.

Life on BoardEarly birds take a cup of tea up to the sundeck, to savour the freshness and solitude of the early morning. Sailing time varies, but breakfast guests are usually able to watch the scenery glide by, whether the Brahmaputra’s sandy expanses and jungle-covered hills or the Hugli’s fi elds and villages. Excursions each day will vary, but there will usually be plenty of time also for relaxation on the sundeck looking out for birds or river dolphin, or perhaps enjoying a glass of beer from the honesty bar. Brahmaputra cruises may well include a visit to a riverside village, where the locals will be as fascinated by us as we are by them. Our guide will be able to fi ll in about the background and to point out the diff erences between the various tribal groups, be they Hindu, Muslim or Christian. Where we cannot moor alongside, we take our country boat to explore temples, country towns and tea gardens, sometimes rising early to go on safari and spot rhino or wild buff alo from the vantage point of elephant back. The Hugli presents diff erent delights, from carved terracott a temples to the glories of Murshidabad, capital of the Nawabs of Bengal, as well as old colonial buildings and village walks amongst jute fi elds and rice paddies. Country markets along the way display a tempting array of mangoes fresh from the local orchards.

Our chef’s talents are much appreciated, whether for the continental dishes usually served at lunch time, or for the varied Indian cuisine at dinner. Usually you will enjoy drinks beforehand in the saloon, a good time to chat over the day’s experiences and to discuss the next day’s programme with your guide.

A favourite evening on the Brahmaputra is a barbecue on a mid-river sand island around a drift wood campfi re. The wilderness sett ing under a vast canopy of stars adds to the appreciation of our chef’s kebabs, marinated and cooked to perfection. Coff ee and perhaps a liqueur back on board provide a fi tt ing prelude to a comfortable night far from the hurly-burly of modern life.

WHEN TO GO?

ABN Charaidew

The ShipsCHARAIDEW, 38m X 8.5m, was built in Guwahati in 1973 and entirely rebuilt there in 2003.

SUKAPHA, 40m X 9.5m, was built in Kolkata in 2006.

Both ships have 12 air-conditioned cabins (10 X twin-bedded, 2 X double-bedded) with en suite shower and WC. Cabins have comfortable

chairs, and generous-sized sliding windows with fl y screens. All accommodation is on the upper deck, as is the bar and saloon. The dining room is on the main deck, while a spacious top sundeck off ers a choice of open or shaded seating and sun loungers. There is also a small spa on ABN Sukapha.

Food on board is a mixture of Indian, Assamese (milder than most Indian cuisine) and continental. Special requirements can be catered for. Wine, beer and spirits are available.

Fabrics on board have been hand-woven by Bodo tribal villagers, and laminated bamboo – to conserve India’s forests – has been used to replace wood wherever possible. The comfortable ratt an chairs are also made locally in Assam.Main Deck

Upper Deck

ABN Charaidew

ABN Sukapha

On Board ABN Sukapha

ABN is proud to announce that our latest ship ABN Rajmahal, will soon join our existing fl eet of ABN Charaidew and ABN Sukapha. The51m x 10.4m colonial-style riverboat has been designed specifi cally for conditions on the Ganges with extra-shallow draught and reduced air draught providing a unique advantage over more conventional designs in these waters.

ABN Rajmahal has 22 air-conditioned, spacious cabins spread over two decks, all with French balconies. Twin cabins are available in both the upper and main decks, four of which will be singles for which no supplement will be charged. Accommodation is comfortable, with locally-made furnishings. In addition to a spa, saloon and dining room, there is a large sundeck where one can enjoy spectacular sunsets and rural Indian panorama drift past while relaxing on sun-loungers and deck chairs. The dining-room of ABN Rajmahal off ers a great variety of East and North Indian delicacies as well as western dishes.

Artists impression ofABN Rajmahal

ABN Rajmahal

For further information contact your Travel Agent or

www.assambengalnavigation.com

India Offi ce :

Assam Bengal Navigation Company3 B, Dirang Arcade, G.N.B. Road, ChandmariGuwahati - 781 003, Assam, IndiaTel: +91 9207042330, +91 9207042331e-mail: [email protected]

Overseas Representative Offi ce :

Assam Bengal Navigation CompanyTel: +44 (0) 1572 821121Fax: +44 (0) 1572 821072e-mail: [email protected]

Exclu

sive/J

TI-A

BN/20

13